Be Part of Building a New Republic

Lynn Boylan addresses the issue of Workers’ Rights at Ard Fheis 2014

For the last six years, we have seen a sustained attack on the rights and conditions of Irish workers, and workers across Europe.

The same governments that say bankers must be paid millions have systematically undermined the wages of ordinary workers, claiming their salaries must drop so economies can become more competitive.

The Labour party has utterly failed Irish workers.

The existence of zero hour contracts, the attacks on the Joint Labour Committees, the obscenity of Jobs Bridge – are all proof that the Labour party has betrayed the ideals of its founders, as it does every time it gets a sniff of ministerial power.

Sinn Féin believes decent pay and decent jobs are fundamental rights.

We have shown how they can be achieved with our jobs proposals and our workers’ rights documents.

Women workers have suffered the most under this Labour/Fine Gael government.

We could expect nothing more from two parties who award only one senior ministry to a woman – that of Social Welfare.

The economic council of Kenny, Gilmore, Noonan and Howlin do not believe women are entitled to more than the minimum wage if they work in shops or services.

They do not understand women can be leaders in the workplace, the entrepreneurs of the future, the drivers of recovery.

They are stuck in the past, where workers and especially women workers, are supposed to be grateful for having a job, any job.

Sinn Féin will not stand by as Fine Gael and Labour pay themselves huge salaries while attacking the workers who are carrying this Government on their backs.

I promise the people at home that Sinn Féin will stand beside you and stand up for you in protecting your rights and ensuring that women achieve the equality and pay they deserve in the workplace.